Lebanon sends troops after residents clash on Syria

Reuters Staff

2 Min Read

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon’s army clamped down on two sectarian districts of a northern city on Saturday after a rally in support of anti-government protestors in Syria triggered deadly clashes between rival gunmen.

Lebanese soldiers patrol on their military vehicle as they are deployed in the Sunni Muslim Bab al-Tebbaneh area, in Tripoli, northern Lebanon June 18, 2011. REUTERS/ Omar Ibrahim

The communities’ long-running feud erupted into violence on Friday after dozens of people took to Tripoli’s Nour Square to show support for a three-month-old Syrian revolt that has drawn bloody crackdowns by Assad’s government.

Security sources said between four and seven people, among them a boy and a soldier, were killed as street fighters attacked each other with assault rifles and grenades. At least 48 people were wounded.

In a statement, the army said it had “returned the situation to normal” and was enforcing a ban on residents carrying guns.

“The army leadership affirms (that) it will not be lax with those who toy with security and who were the reason behind both civilian and military casualties.”

Assad’s domestic challenges have been watched warily in neighboring Lebanon, where sectarian tensions have often been inflamed by Syrian involvement.

Damascus’s clout was especially strong during the Syrian military presence in Lebanon between 1976 and 2005, which also helped the standing of the small local Alawite community.

Since last month, northern Lebanon has seen an influx of Syrians fleeing an assault by Assad’s forces on the border village of Tel Kelakh.